Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains said police were called to the apartment by a woman who lived there, saying Fitton was behaving erratically and had threatened to shoot her mother, Fitton’s girlfriend.

Police Chief Jack Nichols said police made 69 calls to Fitton, who had barricaded himself inside of the apartment, trying to speak to him. Gains said Fitton either hung up or was speaking incomprehensibly in those calls.

Gains said Fitton, who was alone in the apartment, broke the window screen and officers saw a muzzle flash when he fired at them. Two returned fire, and Fitton was struck by at least one and was killed.

Nichols declined to release the names of the officers but said they are on paid administrative leave as per department policy.

Gains said that from everything he had seen, the shooting was justified.

“The officers followed procedures. I commend Boardman police on their restraint and on their training,” he said.